Gesher

May 5-8, Greece

Gesher is one of the largest annual events in the Balkans for young Jewish adults, bringing people together to explore and celebrate what it means to be Jewish through Balkan, European, and global lenses. This year will mark 15 years of Gesher, and with it, 15 years of friendships, Jewish learning, exploration, and growth.

Connect

Gesher is a space for young adults to both explore and celebrate international Jewish life and their own Jewish identities. Gesher operates on the principle that learning and going deeper into our Judaism can lead to growth, inspiration, and ultimately fun and celebration. It is more than a festival – it is a meeting point for young people from all over Europe to come together and share their unique experiences, passions, and values, and to explore what connects them as Jews.

Explore

Participants will have the opportunity to hear from renowned speakers from all over the world about a wide range of Jewish topics. They will have the chance to examine pressing questions of today, and examine the ways Judaism might be relevant in their own lives. A central part of their experience will also be the chance to examine these topics together – to express themselves, share, debate, and discuss.

Celebrate

Learning leads to a deeper appreciation of our identities as Jews, and we can celebrate this appreciation together through different activities. Gesher will feature workshops and booths dedicated to the many enjoyable and fun elements of being Jewish. They will explore and connect with their Judaism in a fun, refreshing, modern way.

FAQ

When and Where is Gesher?

Gesher 2016 will take place in Halkidiki, Greece – one hour away from Thessaloniki – from May 5th to 8th. The event will be starting at 14:00 on Thursday and ending at 14:00 on Sunday. There will be buses from the Thessaloniki airport to the hotel.

Who can participate?

You can come to Gesher if you are Jewish, between the ages of 18 and 35, and living in Europe.

Why is Gesher Balkan-based? Why is it open to international participation this year?

When Gesher first started in 2002, its purpose was to create a cross-regional community of young Balkan Jews. It was one of the only events of its kind, and in the past fifteen years has created hundreds of friendships and connections, and become a central meeting point for young Balkan Jewry.

Now in 2016, the world has become a lot smaller. Traveling around the world is much easier today, and the borders between geographic regions are becoming much blurrier. Gesher is now open to international participation in order to expand our global Jewish community and connections, to follow suit in a dynamic world.

How much does Gesher cost? How do I pay?

The participation fee for Gesher 2016 is 100 euro. This includes your hotel stay, meals, and program. It does not include your travel costs. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email with payment instructions.

Junction is also providing a limited number of half-price scholarships for committed participants who would like to extend their involvement in Gesher. Participants who are already subsidized by JDC offices are not eligible for this additional scholarship. There is an additional application for the scholarship, linked here.

What is the registration deadline?

Participants must register for Gesher by April 15th.

Gesher Team

The Gesher team is a group of dedicated individuals from all over Europe who help plan and execute Gesher throughout the year. Members of the Gesher Team are divided into Celebration, Exploration, Experience, and Storytelling Teams. All members of the Gesher team are responsible for bringing their local community interests and values to the planning process, as well as brainstorming ideas in all areas. The team also helps set up the event and ensures that it runs smoothly. Members of the Gesher team gain valuable skills in event planning, Jewish learning, and project management, and have the chance to participate in strong team bonding and develop meaningful friendships with people from all over the world.

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Check out last year’s Gesher:

“I really enjoy meeting new people and interacting with them, and I believe Gesher is the best opportunity for Jews between the ages of 18 and 35 to do so. Gesher is a means of creating connections that wouldn't otherwise exist!”

-Ileana Manoua, Thessaloniki, Greece

Applications for Gesher have closed.

Gesher Schedule

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We are so excited to connect, explore, and celebrate with you during this memorable experience. Each day of Gesher, the program will be asking a different question about identity, and using different methods to answer it.

Thursday, May 5: Who are We?

Thursday will be dedicated to seeing, examining, and perceiving “Who are we?” You will spend the day approaching this question by getting to know each other, Junction, and the Gesher program.

Today is all about asking “Who are You?” Interactive workshops and a diverse identity festival will place you at the intersection of many kinds of identities, allowing you to ‘taste’ and explore their different elements.

8:30 – 10:00: Breakfast

10:00 – 13:00: Jewish Identity Fest

You will have the chance to visit different booths, such as a drum circle and cooking workshop, an ability challenge park, active booths like krav maga and Jewish dancing, and interactive workshop discussions.

13:00 – 14:30: Lunch and Free Time

14:30 – 16:00: Who are you: Tasting Stories

The Middle East is Funny: Explore Israeli Society through Comedy with Benji Lovitt

Little White Lie: A Film about Denial, Race, Family Secrets, and Search for Identity with Lacey Schwartz

16:00 – 17:00: Who are you on Shabbat?

Shabbat & I with Mina Pasalic

Shabbat for non-Jews with Miriam Camerini

Shabbat Crafts: Flower Crowns

17:00 – 18:00: Shabbat

18:00 – 19:00: Pre-Shabbat Cocktail and Candle-lighting

19:00 – 20:00: Kabbalat Shabbat Options

20:00 – 21:30: Dinner

21:30 – 23:00: Shabbat Evening Programs

Saturday May 7: Who Am I?

Shabbat allows us to really unplug, and to truly feel. Today each one of you will have a chance to honestly examine the question “Who Am I?” by engaging in sessions that allow you to get in touch with yourselves and with Shabbat; you will also take part in discussions and debates about important modern issues like inclusivity and collective responsibility.

8:30 – 10:00: Breakfast

10:00 – 11:30: Get in Touch with Shabbat and Self

Shaharit

The Power of the Circle: Breathing, Relaxing and Meditation with Ido Levit

Neshama Yeterah – How to Say Goodbye to the Shabbat Feeling with Avishay Wohl

Me through Jewish Lenses with Mina Pasalic

Reflect. Evaluate. Grow! with Deborah Blausten

19:00 – 21:00: Dinner

21:00 – 22:00: Havdalah and Concert

22:00: Closing Party: Masquerade Ball

Sunday, May 8: What can we do Together?

Throughout Gesher, you will look inward and outward to explore different Jewish and modern questions. By the end of Gesher, you will have the chance to ‘act’ on one final but vital question: “what can we do together?”, showing us how powerful we really are when we work together as a force for change.

8:30 – 10:00: Breakfast and Checkout

10:00 – 12:00: What Can We Do Together? Gesher Social Action

12:00 – 13:00: Closing Ceremony

Speakers

Benji Lovitt

Since making aliyah in 2006, comedian Benji Lovitt has performed for audiences around the world including Birthright Israel, Masa Israel Journey, and Limmud. His perspectives on life in Israel have been featured on Israeli television and radio and in publications such as USA Today, Time Magazine, Huffington Post, the Times of Israel, and more. His annual Yom Ha’atzmaut list of things he loves about Israel has developed a huge following and he works regularly with Jewish organizations to promote Israel. During 2014’s Operation Protective Edge, his humorous observations on the war led to his being called in Israel “the only reason to go on Facebook.”

Avishay Wohl

Avishay Wohl is one of the founding members of the Secular Yeshiva in Jerusalem. Avishay studied general literature and bible studies in the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and graduated Kerem Institute for teacher training. For the last five years he led all Secular Yeshiva events, including Independence Day celebration, “Hafla” event every Thursday night, Purim celebration and many more. Avishay, an educator at heart, lives in Jerusalem with wife Ayala, and three wonderful children.

Tikva Sendeke

Tikva Sendeke is 27 years old, from Israel. Tikva is currently doing a voluntary service at “Action Reconciliation Service for Peace” in Germany. She holds a B.A in Middle Eastern History from Tel Aviv University and is a social activist and a blogger involved in the fields of minorities rights, multiculturalism, Jewish life and preserving Jewish Ethiopian heritage. Tikva’s first children’s book, “Almaz’s Journey Through Her Childhood Pathways” about the life of a little Jewish girl in Ethiopia, was recently published in Israel.

Ruben Uzan

Ruben is from Paris and has lived in Israel and Canada. Since an early age he is passionate about identities and motivations of people. His questions brought him to be a marketing consultant that works on brand identity and content. His moto – in life as in business – is know thyself.

Mina Pasajilic

Mina practically grew up in the Jewish Community of Belgrade. She is passionate about Jewish informal education and has been involved in it for the last 15 years. The last 8 months Mina spent studying Jewish Studies at Paideia Institute in Stockholm. Mina works as a program director at Szarvas International Jewish Summer Camp. In her free time, Mina enjoys traveling, reading, dancing.

Ido Levit

Ido Levit is a Jerusalem-based artistic and cultural entrepreneur, currently working as the Content and Cultural Activity Director at Eden, Jerusalem Center Development company. Prior to that Ido was the owner of Hakatze production company that led many successful culture events for big crowds. Ido also holds a black belt in Ninjutsu and is a qualified yoga and rebirthing therapist.

Miriam Camerini

Miriam Camerini was born in Jerusalem on Purim night of 1983 and lives in Milan, Italy. Theatre director, actress, singer and playwright, she graduated in Theatre Studies (Milan State University) and then worked as assistant director at Zurich’s Opera Theatre, Venice’s La Fenice Theatre and at Budapest’s Golem Theatre as guest director. Miriam studied Talmud at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies (2007 – 2008) and Theatre Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (2008 – 2010), where she worked as a producer and assistant director for the Jerusalem Theatre Company in 2010. After graduating from the Drama Academy Paolo Grassi in Milan in 2012, Miriam established her own theatre company in Milan (Tzama Nafshi). Most of their plays and performances deal with Jewish themes. Her artistic researches include interpretation and representation, diaspora and the land of Israel, and art and spirituality.

Alexey Kochetkov

Alexey “Aletchko” Kochetkov, currently a “new Berliner”, was born in Russia, but at the age of 19 moved to Israel where he lived and worked for ten years. There he started his solo career and also got a nickname “Aletchko”. Though he was originally classically trained his abilities extend effortlessly into many different facets of the world music from Balkan, Gypsy, Klezmer and Oriental genres. Nowadays Aletchko and his band rocking the stages and making their crowd dance with this crazy mix of Russian virtuosity and Mediterranean temperament. To make a long story short – must see!

Perach Adom

A Jerusalem band that specializes in the rebetiko style of Greek blues, continuing in the path charted by Jewish singer Roza Eskenazi, the leading Greek rebetiko singer, and by the Jews of Salonika , This exciting show the band will sing a variety of styles Greek Hebrew Ladino. Tomer Katz – bouzouki vocal Inbal Dadon – Vocal Nimrod Atzmon – Giutar

Noah Levin

Noah Levin started drama classes at summer camp in the woods of northern California and hasn’t looked back since, attaining a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Education from the University of California at San Diego, teaching drama at schools and camps, and studying Improvisation at the People’s Improv Theatre and Upright Citizen’s Brigade in New York. Noah worked as a professional standup comedian and improviser in New York, before moving to Barcelona to become the Artistic Director of Barcelona Improv Group and The Barcelona Improv Group International Festival (The BIG IF). Noah currently teaches several levels of improv classes and leads workshops in theatre, creativity, teamwork, and employee training for adults and students, sharing the love of play and creation with over a thousand children and adults.

Deborah Blausten

Deborah is a Jewish educator and rabbinical student from London, England. She has a Masters in Education and Technology from UCL and a research interest in privacy and online identity. She previously worked for Jeneration, training, mentoring, and educating groups of Jewish students on university campuses around the U.K. As a committed Limmud volunteer, she has held several steering group roles including co-chairing the programme for Limmud Conference 2015. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, running, crafting, and collecting rare sneakers.

Dave Shaw

Dave is a founding director and trustee of Keshet UK – the charity that works for full inclusion of LGBT people in all aspects of Jewish life – where he oversees operations and communications. Dave also co-chairs Gay Jews In London, a group with over 600 members, coordinating social activities for those identifying as gay and Jewish in London.

David Gee

David is a 23 year old medical student from London (UK) who volunteers with Keshet UK. He believes that one shouldn’t have to choose between their Jewish & LGBT+ identities and wants to make it possible for people to celebrate both in various spaces.

Daria Melamed

Daria is part of the team in the Jewish Community Center “Beit Shalom” in Sofia as program coordinator. She is a resident and a founder of Moishe House Sofia in Bulgaria and recently she started working for Moishe House as International Expansion Associate. She grew up in the Jewish community. Daria graduated from the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” in the Philology Department. She is also part of the Unit Head team of Szarvas Int’l Jewish Youth Camp in Hungary. In her free time she coordinates the Israeli dancing project “Keren Shemesh” in Sofia.

Livyo Hazbay

Always been interested in music & dance, Livyo self-taught Michael Jackson & hiphop dances. He performed on stage in high school twice for Michael Jackson performances, and lecturing people since then. He started playing drums around 2008, and tasted funk, jazz, songo, samba, bossanova, reggae, blues, rock, pop & metal. Livyo loves creating/composing rhythms out of nowhere & tasting different types of music and letting the beat flow in his senses.

Lacey Schwartz

Lacey A. Schwartz is the Director of Outreach, North America, of Bechol Lashon, an organization that grows and strengthens the Jewish people through ethnic, cultural, and racial inclusiveness. She is also the CEO of the production company Truth Aid. She is a filmmaker and outreach and community strategist who has worked with a variety of companies and organizations, including MTV, BET, NASCAR and @radical.media. Lacey directed, wrote and produced Little White Lie, an award-winning, highly rated and critically acclaimed personal documentary about dual identity and family secrets which was broadcast on PBS’s Independent Lens and is now available on iTunes and Amazon. She also Executive Produced the narrative film DIFRET which won audience awards at the 2014 Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals. Lacey has a BA from Georgetown University and a JD from Harvard Law School. She is a member of the New York State Bar.

Kaloyan Antonov

Better known as Koko, he has a weak spot for society. After dedicating more than a few years to Jewish education, summer camps, and madrich training in Sofia, Bulgaria, Koko is currently using what he learned to serve the digital presence of rants. Everything he does in life is considered through Jewish and cultural morals!

Maxim Delchev

Maxim Delchev is the ‘almost’ person. He almost enjoyed his university where he studied Public relations. He is almost funny and almost won ‘Who wants to be a Millionnaire’ in Bulgaria. He works for the Jewish community in Bulgaria as an educational director which sometimes takes almost all of his time. And more seriously – After he has realized that advertising and Public relations is not his passion, Maxim started to work in the Jewish community and developed a hobby and sometimes obsession for Jewish knowledge and Jewish education. Now his full time job is to help creating interactive and interesting Jewish programs and to help building the content of all of the programs.